+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening sentences:
Let the clouds rain down the Just One, and the earth bring forth a Savior.
Let the beauty of the Lord be upon us.
Lord, open my lips; and my mouth will proclaim your praise.
A Reading from the Gospels: Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)
“I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is! And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it. For before John came, all the prophets and the law of Moses looked forward to this present time. And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!
Canticle:
Teach me, dear Lord, to number my days; that I may apply my heart unto wisdom. Oh, satisfy me early with Thy mercy, that I may rejoice and be glad all of my days.
This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon me; and establish Thou the work of my hands.
Blessing:
May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Softly as the dew-fall of heaven, may the Holy Spirit come upon me to aid and raise me, to bind my prayer firmly at the throne of the King of life.
God’s will would I do, my own will bridle; God’s due would I give, my own due yield; God’s path would I travel my own path refuse.
All whom I love, into Your safe-keeping; all that I am, into Your tender care; all that I will be, into Your perfect will.
Morning readings
John 5:30-47 ESV:
“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.
“If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
“But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.
“And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
“I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
“Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
Reflections / Prayer:
The Father’s witness
Only God, and those whom he uses, can testify to God. There are four expressions of the Father’s witness: the Baptist, Jesus’ works, Jesus’ words and the Scriptures.
+ John the Baptist, like Jesus, spoke what he heard from the Father… and bore witness to the truth – who is Christ.
+ Jesus’ does the works the Father has given him… divine activity in itself – consistent with God’s own character.
+ Jesus’ speaks only what he hears from the God; to see and hear Jesus is to see and hear God.
+ Jesus is the Word, the point of reference for all the words of Scripture; Scripture is a means to an end – a witness to Jesus the Christ.(The IVP New Testament Commentary Series)
__________
The problem of unbelief
Unbelievers lack the love for God in their hearts. Jesus, on the other hand, is completely centered in God, caring only for God’s glory.
+ Unbelievers care more about human praise, instead of seeking praise from God alone.
+ Unbelievers lack the ability to discern the things of God, because of their pride.
+ Unbelievers embrace the false – accepting folk with no authority outside of themselves.
Jesus accuses them of lacking the love of God and of failing to accept the agent who has come in his name, yet Jesus does so to give them a chance to come to their senses. The judgment he passes is itself an aspect of the grace of God intended for their salvation.
(The IVP New Testament Commentary Series)
__________
__________
Canticle:
Christ, as a light… illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield… overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
_____________________________________
Peanut Gallery: A brief word of explanation – the general format for Morning Prayer is adapted from the Northumbrian Community‘s Daily Office, as found in Celtic Daily Prayer (see online resources here.) The Scripture readings are primarily from the Gospel of John, with the intent to complete the reading by Easter. Other Scriptures which illuminate the Gospel of John will be included along the way.
Reflections from various saints will be included as their memorial days occur during the calendar year.
On Sundays, I’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world.
Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.
This day is Your gift to me; I take it, Lord, from Your hand and thank You for the wonder of it.
God be with me in this Your day, every day and every way, with me and for me in this Your day; and the love and affection of heaven be toward me.
Morning readings
John 3:22-36 ESV:
After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing. John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized (for John had not yet been put in prison).
Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness — look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.”
He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Reflections / Prayer:
Joy in Humility:
“He must become greater; I must become less.” This word “must” signifies the outworking of God’s plan. John’s joy is in fulfilling God’s will for his life — a model of Christian discipleship.
Where do we find our joy? It is easy to get distracted by the pleasurable blessings of this life. We should be thankful and receive gratefully God’s blessings, but our joy’s deepest foundation is God in himself… that He is as Jesus revealed Him to be… that He is fulfilling His purposes for our own lives… and that He fills us to overflowing with His Spirit.
All that I am, Lord, I place into Your hands.
All that I do, Lord, I place into Your hands.
Everything I work for I place into Your hands.
Everything I hope for I place into Your hands.
The troubles that weary me I place into Your hands.
The thoughts that disturb me I place into Your hands.
Each that I pray for I place into Your hands.
Each that I care for I place into Your hands.
Help me to find my happiness in my acceptance of what is Your purpose for me: in friendly eyes, in work well done, in quietness born of trust, and, most of all, in the awareness of Your presence in my spirit.
Christ, as a light… illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield… overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
_____________________________________
Peanut Gallery: A brief word of explanation – the general format for Morning Prayer is adapted from the Northumbrian Community‘s Daily Office, as found in Celtic Daily Prayer (see online resources here.) The Scripture readings are primarily from the Gospel of John, with the intent to complete the reading by Easter. Other Scriptures which illuminate the Gospel of John will be included along the way.
Reflections from various saints will be included as their memorial days occur during the calendar year.
On Sundays, I’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world.
Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening sentence
I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, through belief in the Threeness, through confession of the Oneness of the Creator of creation.
I arise today through the strength of Christ with His Baptism, through the strength of His Crucifixion with His Burial, through the strength of His Resurrection with His Ascension…. (St Patrick’s Breastplate)
Morning readings
John 1:19-34 ESV:
Icon of St John the Baptist Byzantine, around AD 1300 From Constantinople (modern Istanbul, Turkey)
And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
(Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
Reflections / Prayer:
This brief encounter between the officials and the Baptist raises searching questions for us. First, do we have the inner openness and deep desire necessary to receive God’s revelation? Second, since our identity, like that of the Baptist, is most truly seen in relation to Christ, how does our life — our relationships and responsibilities — flow from our relation to God? What would we say if asked “Who are you?” and “Why are you doing what you are doing?”?
__________
The Baptist concludes his testimony to Jesus with the central title for Jesus in this Gospel: I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God. His testimony is a model of Christian witness to Jesus! He is also a model of Christian discipleship in his humility… in his recognition of his ignorance, and in his waiting and watching for God’s promised one… Such humility is part of being receptive and obedient to God. One with such a heart is able, like the Baptist, to hear God.
Heavenly Father: Give me the heart, mind and spirit of John the Baptist –
+ I freely acknowledge my limitations in comprehension – show me Your glory
+ I freely acknowledge that I can do nothing apart from You – come Holy Spirit
+ Give me an openness and desire to receive all that Your Spirit reveals
+ Open my eyes to the movement of Your Spirit working in and around me
+ Give me a willing and obedient spirit to join in the work of Your Spirit
+ And in all things, may I be a faithful witness… pointing people to Jesus –
the Christ,
the Lamb of God,
the Chosen One,
the Son of God.
Lord God – Father, Son, and Spirit – be glorified in me… today. Amen
Canticle
Christ, as a light… illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield… overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
_____________________________________
Peanut Gallery: A brief word of explanation – the general format for Morning Prayer is adapted from the Northumbrian Community‘s Daily Office, as found in Celtic Daily Prayer (see online resources here.) The Sripture readings are primarily from the Gospel of John, with the intent to complete the reading by Easter. Other Scriptures which illuminate the Gospel of John will be included along the way.
Reflections from various saints will be included as their memorial days occur during the calendar year.
On Sundays, I’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world.
Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Opening sentence
I arise today, through God’s strength to pilot me, God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me, God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me, God’s shield to protect me, God’s host to save me from snares of devils, from temptation of vices, from everyone who shall wish me ill, afar and near. (St Patrick’s Breastplate)
Morning readings
John 1:6-13 ESV:
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Isaiah 49:6b ESV:
“I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
Galatians 4:4-5 ESV:
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
Reflections / Prayer:
Light for all –
The light of Jesus is as universal as the light of creation. He did not come merely to some Gnostic elite, nor did he come to a single nation or culture. This light is the Word that became flesh in a given time and place. At the heart of Christianity is the so-called scandal of particularity. People of all cultures and times are to receive the light that shines in this first-century Jew—he who has been given authority over all people.
Why do some belive and others do not? …There is no doubt that God’s gracious sovereign initiative comes first, for he is the source of all life and it is only by his grace that any life occurs and abides at all. The right (or power) to become children of God must be given by God…. But unlike natural birth the one being born of God does play a part; this life is not forced on the believer but must be received. Those who are receptive to the Son are offered the gift of becoming children of God themselves.
John does not say “he made them children of God” but “he gave them power to become children of God” (cf. Chrysostom In John 10.2).
The tragedy is the mixed response he gets, for some “wilfully close the eyes of their mind” (Chrysostom In John 8.1).
Believing in Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, enables us to have “life in his name”… to become children of God – which means we begin to share his divine life, without ceasing to be creatures… and, we begin to reflect his character.
Heavenly Father: You have placed all the tribes and nations in their positions here on earth… and You have sent Your Light to them in the person of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Your desire is that all should receive this gift of light and life… and so be counted as Your children… adopted into Your family.
I pray for leaders of tribes and nations –
+ that they might acknowledge You as their source of rulershipship and authority
+ that they might love their people more than they love themselves
+ that they might serve as shepherds rather than taskmasters
+ that they might provide for order, peace and shared prosperity in their lands
+ that they might realize that You know the thoughts and workings in all men’s hearts
+ that humility might fill their hearts and that they might learn to fear You
+ that they might rule with Your final judgement in mind
I pray for the families of these leaders –
+ that You might work Your wonders in their hearts at this practical dimension of their daily lives
+ that You might rightly order their family relationships and priorities
+ that You might work miracles in their households.
Heavenly Father: May Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. And may all nations be open to receive Your gift of life and light in Jesus Christ… in whose name we pray. Amen
Canticle
Christ, as a light… illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield… overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.
Blessing
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
_____________________________________
Peanut Gallery: A brief word of explanation – the general format for Morning Prayer is adapted from the Northumbrian Community‘s Daily Office, as found in Celtic Daily Prayer (see online resources here.) The Sripture readings are primarily from the Gospel of John, with the intent to complete the reading by Easter. Other Scriptures which illuminate the Gospel of John will be included along the way.
Reflections from various saints will be included as their memorial days occur during the calendar year.
On Sundays, I’ll return to the USCCB readings (see online resources here) and various liturgical resources in order to reflect the Church’s worship and concerns throughout the world.
Photo illustrations and music videos, available online, are included as they illustrate or illuminate the readings. I will try to give credit and link to sources as best I can.
The Peanut Gallery 